Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) (HUVEC)

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are primary cells derived from the endothelium of the vein of the human umbilical cord. They are the most commonly used model system for studying human endothelial cell biology and vascular physiology in vitro [1]. HUVECs play a critical role in research involving angiogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and blood-brain barrier modeling [2]. While they are not a single molecular target, they express numerous receptors and enzymes that are key therapeutic targets, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors (VEGFRs) and Tie2 [3]. These cells are essential for evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of drugs targeting the cardiovascular system and tumor vasculature [4]. However, as primary cells, they exhibit donor-to-donor variability and have a limited proliferative lifespan, which can affect the reproducibility of experimental results [5]. They are often used in high-throughput screening to identify compounds that modulate endothelial function or inhibit pathological vessel growth [6]. Despite their utility, researchers must be cautious as venous-derived HUVECs may not fully represent the specialized functions of arterial or microvascular endothelial cells [7].

Other names

Human umbilical vein endothelial cellsHUVECUmbilical vein endothelium

Not applicable (HUVECs are a cell type, not a molecular target; drugs listed target specific proteins expressed by these cells, such as VEGFR)